U.S. President Donald Trump will suspend processing immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries starting Jan. 21 as part of its expanding immigration crackdown, the State Department said on Wednesday.
State Department officials said the suspension is intended to allow a review of screening procedures.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States,” said Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” Pigott added.
The pause comes amid a broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump, who has ramped up enforcement actions while also tightening pathways for legal immigration through higher fees, expanded screening and social media checks.
The State Department said earlier this week it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump returned to office.
Immigration analysts said the impact of the suspension could be significant.
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Myanmar
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Colombia
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- The Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- North Macedonia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Republic of the Congo
- Russia
- Rwanda
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
